England exile Carl Fearns believes he is the only man who could replace Billy Vunipola - but cannot be picked because he plays in France.

The 29-year-old 18st 8lbs Lyon man is a powerful ball-carrying back-rower who left Bath in 2015 around the time of Sam Burgess' ill-fated stint at the club.

He never won an England cap, but did play for the second-string Saxons and in a non-cap match against the Barbarians.

Carl Fearns cannot be picked by Eddie Jones as he plays in France for Lyon

The RFU have a rule which precludes them from picking those who play outside of England, and head coach Eddie Jones said he would not activate the 'exceptional circumstances' clause for Fearns.

But the man himself, having returned from a serious knee-injury that saw him miss almost an entire year of rugby, says England could do with him - especially with Vunipola, Nathan Hughes, Sam Simmonds and Chris Robshaw all injured.